This paper was written to help the Labour Party think through its approach to power so it can build relationships with other parties and forces it is bound to require if it is not just to gain office but have and use power for transformative effect.
Equally this was written so that Green,...

This thinkpiece makes the case for radical liberalism in today's political context. Paul Pettinger and Chris Bowers make the case that the Lib Dems should embrace and advance radical social liberal values, such as seeking the devolution of power as well as wealth, and empowering people as...

The old economic order is dying morally and practically. To build a new one we need not just different forms of ownership for more social purpose, but workers with rights underpinned by a new system of social security. Here Ursula Huws makes the case for a new Bill of Workers' Rights and a new...

The Good London project addressed how rising inequality and rapid change are excluding too many Londoners from a good life. The project started with a single question: what kind of city do you want to live in? At the heart of Good London was the intention to question how democracy operates in...

After the vote for Brexit, interest in the idea of a ‘Progressive Alliance’ accelerated. It became The Progressive Alliance during the Richmond Park by-election almost a year ago when some progressive parties and thousands of progressive voters combined to see the defeat of Zac Goldsmith....

This is an extended version of a contribution to a Compass session at The World Transformed at the Labour Party conference in Brighton in September 2017 with Clive Lewis MP, Lisa Nandy MP, Hilary Wainwright and Jeremy Gilbert, on One more heave or hegemony? It forms part of Compass’ thinking...

The way we think about and relate to the state has altered little in over a 100 year. It is a machine to be controlled, largely from London, so we can do good things to people. Almost 100 years ago the radical feminist and management theorist Mary Parker Follett published her seminal text The...

Whether the next general election is sooner or later, it will be hotly contested. Is Labour's surprise showing in June 2017 a base to build from or a high watermark? Should the party go for a one more heave approach to get over the line or adopt a more hegemonic and alliance-based approach? This...

Few issues divide progressives more than Brexit. There is a progressive case for Brexit, for Remain and for respecting a democratic decision.
Somehow we have to find our way between all of them – and quite fast. Compass doesn’t have a line on Brexit, although we have always been...

In recent decades, we have seen a sharp polarisation emerge between communitarian and cosmopolitan concerns. While recognising cultural and material differences between different sections of society, Compass is keen to explore what unites and binds people and how we manage the tensions between...

In this article Liberal Democrat Paul Pettinger argues that Liberals have long been a part of a historical Progressive alliance, and should continue to be a part of it. A Progressive Alliance is the quickest way to reset our electoral system, whilst preventing a Conservative hegemony.

SNP politicians Tommy Sheppard and Anne McLaughlin were elected to Westminster in 2015, part of the political tidal wave in Scotland that saw the SNP return 56 out of 59 MPs. This frank piece shows how the SNP can play a decisive role in shifting politics in the entire UK, whilst standing firm...

The progressive alliance, or indeed alliances, is based on a series of local and national agreements to cooperate to secure the most progressive outcome at and after the next general election. For this to happen support for such alliances must be built within and across all the progressive...

This is one of two papers which attempt to explore the purpose, structure and culture of the modern political party. Ken Spours draws on Gramsci and Laloux to analyse the party in its 21st Century context.

In the second of two papers examining the 21st Century Party, Indra Adnan explores how the meeting of the horizontal and vertical necessitates a fundamental shift in the structure, culture and leadership of modern parties.

‘The context for a world without poverty’ is a paper that is part of series for a project that the Webb Memorial Trust (WMT) and Compass conduct together to develop a Theory and Practice of Change for a World Without Poverty. The aim with this project is to look at how poverty can be ended...

We're really delighted to announce that nominations are open for you to stand for the Compass Management Committee for 2016 - 2018 and hope that members will consider putting yourselves forward - you'll get to work with us (what a team!) to help Compass continue doing great work in the coming 2...

Not everyone is a mother. But taking a mother-centric approach in the workplace has wider benefits for all carers, for the economy and for wider society.
Some of us are mothers by accident, some have yearned for their babies for years, and others choose not to have children. But we all...

This speech was given at the launch of Mothers for a Progressive Alliance, 18th November 2017.
I’d like to share a couple of stories: that of Bibi Mamana, killed by a drone missile strike in Pakistan in 2012; and of Jamila Ali Abdu, a little girl who died this year of hunger and disease in...

In this talk I am going to argue that placing mothering at the centre of political-economic discourse is central to the advance of progressive politics, the dismantling of the hegemony of neoliberalism within British society and its replacement by what could be seen as the ‘good society’. In...

I joined the Progressive Alliance for Mothers to confront Islamophobia
I arrived in the UK 8 years ago from the USA. I am a practising Christian who met and married a British Muslim man after arriving. My white family are staunch Trump supporters. Due to the clash of beliefs I no longer have...

This blogpost is the first in a week-long series exploring the question of the role of mothers in progressive politics.
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On Mother’s Day we rightly celebrate the role that mothers play in raising children while juggling work whether it is paid or at home. Mothers' work often goes...

March 8th, International Women’s Day, can never be a full celebration of all womankind while large swathes of women are part of the ‘left behind’ debate. It is these women who should be put centre stage today because the female talent pool being celebrated is only partly representative of...

How do progressives not just change society but transform it? As the 40-year reign of neo-liberalism stumbles but doesn’t yet tumble, where does hope come from? There are two schools of thought: monopolism and pluralism.
A glimpse into the thinking of the monopolists could be seen in Owen...

Race and migration are the most explosive issues in British politics today. In contrast to the tabloid headlines, Our City: Migrants and the Making of Modern Birmingham explores how one of Britain’s major cities has been transformed for the better by its migrant population. Based on original...

This think piece by Chris Bowers and Paul Pettinger makes the case for radical liberalism in today's political context. The authors, both linked to the Liberal Democrats, argue that their party should embrace and advance radical social liberal values, such as seeking the devolution of power as...

‘Mothers for a Progressive Alliance' was launched on 18th November, 2017 with the backing of Compass. The group is part of the Progressive Alliance movement. It will put at the forefront mothers as a grouping in society with specific needs worthy of consideration, as opposed to being...

Our Good London project sets out a bold vision for a better city. The project brought together citizens from all across London, to discuss, decide and determine the shape of their city. The solutions point to a radically different future for London - one that is more equal, collaborative and...

The Paradise Papers has exposed the labyrinthine routes through which the wealthy secure trickle-up economics. The super-rich have supersized their wealth by investing 300 billion pounds of UK GDP in offshore tax havens and undermining democracy. This information is leaking out at a time when...

So there we were, some months ago, busy thinking about the progressive alliance and worrying that three years wouldn't be enough to build it, when Theresa May called an election she said she wouldn’t call - and suddenly it was all hands to the pump to help stop a Tory landslide. Which -...

As a liberal democracy in the 21st century, our legal and civic institutions protect us all against discrimination of many kinds. Of course this doesn’t magically banish all discrimination from our society. But it does create a legal framework that expresses a shared conviction –...

How can progressive parties work better together? How can we change the voting system to make it more proportional? And where can we find a good pastry on a grey Monday morning at Labour Party Conference?
On Monday 25th September, we found answers to all the above. Co-hosted by Make Votes...

Labour is further from regaining political power than it thinks. The 8th June pattern of electoral support highlights four major weaknesses for the party – the loss of white working class votes; a weak performance in English towns, a dependence on Remain voters and an over-reliance on young...

Few issues divide progressives as much as Brexit.
Jon Bloomfield's new piece tries to find a way through the challenges and possibilities of a progressive Brexit, and its implications for the Left.
This is the first in a series of pieces on the subject of our new relationship with the...

In his new thinkpiece, David Edgar explores the growing polarisation between cosmopolitan and communitarian values and perspectives. Both exist within each of us and within our political culture but increasingly, communitarianism and cosmopolitanianism are deemed opposites and even...

Study your political adversary
While the Conservatives have driven UK politics for the best part of a decade, the Left has spent precious little time analysing the strategy and condition of the political adversary. Moreover, the Tories are still in power, albeit it weakly and, conversely,...

This has to be a General Election fought like no other. If we fight it the old way, the Tories will win a massive victory – not just for themselves and the interests they represent, but for the hardest of Brexits.
We have to fight differently. We have to fight together. We have to fight...

Good London is a non-partisan Compass project funded by the Trust for London to start a conversation about the kind of city londoners want to live in as we head for elections in May and hold the next Mayor to account after the elections. Find out more below or check out our website for...

Compass is a home for people, political parties and other organisations to work together to create a fairer society based on equality, sustainability and democracy, and to campaign together to achieve these aims.
A new Compass group is starting up in Calderdale, which we hope will lead to the...

Don't miss the next meeting of East London Compass, to debate the question:
"Do we live in a parliamentary democracy?"
We'll be joined by Alex Runswick from Unlock Democracy and Christine Shawcroft from the Greater London Assembly and the event will be chaired by Rachel Collinson. They'll...

Compass is co-sponsoring a fringe meeting at the Liberal Democrats' spring conference in March aimed at establishing a radical platform within the party, and doing so in a way that will allow or progressive cross-party co-operation.
The meeting is being hosted by two Lib Dems who have worked...

We're holding a session about our new project at the Green Party Spring Conference, in Bournemouth, 3rd March. The Common Platform is an ideas and policies space to bring together the best progressive thinking of our times - and to build the relationships that will make the next progressive...

West London Compass and Make Votes Matter would like to bring together Labour Party members, supporters and others on the broad left across west and south west London to address electoral unfairness, and other topics in the debate around electoral change. Come to our meeting to hear speakers...

At the last election, the Tories took all the seats in Cornwall, despite some very close races. In West Cornwall, both the Lib Dems and Labour ran the Tories to the line; the Lib Dems lost out by some 200 votes.
Cornwall and Britain need the politics of hope. Progressive Alliance for Cornwall...

Are you a mother with something to say about how austerity, NHS cuts, education cuts and anything else is affecting you?
Come along to an open MIC session on Saturday 20 January 2018 from 11am to 1pm to share your views in an open and democratic space.
'Mothers for a Progressive Alliance'...

The meeting on Wednesday 22nd November 2017 is entitled "The Future of UK Health Policy in the 21st Century: The Great Health Debate", and the keynote speakers will include experts and speakers from a range of political parties:
- Larry Sanders (Green Party Health...

On Saturday 18th November, the 'Mothers for a Progressive Alliance' is getting together for the first time. The group is being launched by Jane Chelliah, the blogger 'ambitious mamas' to push for issues that affect parents, particularly mothers, to be explored and adopted at a cross-party...

This year our yearly gathering will take place on Saturday 4 November, at Toynbee Studios near Aldgate.
It's the chance for the Compass clan to get together, check in, discuss our strategy, our local groups and our ambitious plans for the future.
More details, including timings, sessions...

During the last election, Bristol progressives from all walks of life came together to campaign for a more equal, sustainable and democratic future. We played a huge role in delivering progressive wins in many key seats and fundamentally reshaping the narrative of British politics.
However...

On 21st October, Peter Macfadyen, the founder of Flatpack Democracy in Frome, will be coming along to a gathering of Salisbury Compass to tell the story of how a small group of local people triggered an international movement for democratic participation.
Doors will open at 10.30 and Peter...

As summer has drawn to a close, it's time to look back on our efforts in the General Election and look forward to the party conferences and plans for Progressive Alliances in the London Council Elections next May.
Come join us on 3rd October to talk about:
Our performance in electing...

What caused the swing to Labour at the last election and how can this surge be sustained and extended? How can we build a progressive bloc to beat the regressive alliance, not just to win an election but to support and sustain a radical progressive government? How can political parties better...

What do we want? Democracy. How do we get it? Together!
Join us on Monday 25th, 9.30 - 11am, for a breakfast on the theme of upgrading our democracy and progressive cooperation. A recurring tension of our times has been the disconnection between the ‘people’ and the system that is meant...

Salisbury Compass will be holding the city's first Democracy Cafe in Salisbury Arts Centre on Saturday 16th September, 10am - 12. The organisers promise it will bean oasis of reasonableness in a desert of rising intolerance and polarization - so don't miss out!
Free to attend - all are welcome.

Join us at the launch of our new book, 'All Together Now' (pre-order your copy here), based on first-hand testimony of the Progressive Alliance in 2017.
'All Together Now' reveals the inside story of the PA campaign at the recent election, whilst also exploring progressive alliances...

It's time to fix our broken electoral system.
Constituency Labour Parties across the country have passed motions calling on Labour to back Proportional Representation for Westminster elections, 76% of Labour voters said they would support such a move and MPs from across the party have called...